Col. Mark E. Bush graduated with degrees in mass communications and English from the State University of West Georgia and was commissioned as an infantry officer in 2004. His first assignment was as a platoon leader and company executive officer in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Italy, where he participated in Operation Enduring Freedom. Col. Bush subsequently served on a military transition team stationed out of Fort Riley, Kan., and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon return, he attended the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course at Fort Benning, Ga. He was then assigned to 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., where he served as a battalion assistant operations officer, a rifle company commander and a headquarters and headquarters company commander; during this assignment he deployed again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Upon completion of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Belvoir, Va., Col. Bush attended Georgetown University and received a master’s degree in policy management. He then reported to the Pentagon, where he served on the Joint Staff and as a planner on the Army Staff. Col. Bush next moved to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and served as an infantry battalion and Stryker brigade combat team executive officer.
In 2017, Col. Bush returned to Europe, where he commanded Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, the British Parachute Regiment in Colchester, United Kingdom, and then served at Headquarters, U.S. Army Europe in Wiesbaden, Germany. Subsequently, he commanded 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck, Germany, where he deployed numerous times in support of NATO efforts and Operation European Assure, Deter and Reinforce.
He then attended the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, as a U.S. Army War College senior fellow. Col. Bush most recently served at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium.
Among his awards and decorations, Col. Bush is the recipient of the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Ranger Tab, the U.S. Senior Parachutist Badge, and Italian, Thai, Georgian and British jump wings.
He and his awesome wife, Amanda, of 17 years are blessed with a daughter, Ava, 15.